Entries Tagged 'Uncategorized' ↓

For decades Saudi Aramco has been the front runner in the Middle East for companies innovating with education.  Intelligently thinking about how to better their employees, reduce turnover, and increase productivity while creating an amazing workforce.

“Last year the government-owned company paid for the education of 1,922 graduate and undergraduate Saudi students, including 1,138 in North America, 439 in Europe, and 217 in Saudi Arabia itself.”

Impressive for any organization, but not nearly as important as their college preparatory programs that help the students succeed in international universities.  All the students I’ve met on the Aramco scholarships have been of an extremely high caliber, showing that the organizaiton is seriously dedicated to homegrown talent.

Its something that not only other Middle Eastern companies need to learn from, but more importantly, I believe its how multi-national organizations need to think.  Instead of recruiting expats to come in for 2 year contracts, use those same dollars to build an educated and dedicated workforce that is already in its own country.  I hope its a concept that we will see more companies begin to use in the next few years.

You can read the full article “A Saudi Oil Giant Sees the Future in Education” at the Chronicle of Higher Education website.

-wassan

Every conference I attend, whether NAFSA, OACAC or NACAC, the question of whether Catholic Colleges and Universities should bother recruiting in the Middle East comes up consistently.  I am always baffled by the question, as I would expect Catholic institutions would be more aware of the long history of Catholic and Jesuit education in the Middle East.  I have also heard counselors discouraging Catholic schools from recruiting in the region and all I can say is that they are wrong.

I was thrilled to see this article in today’s Washington Post and hope you will enjoy reading it as well:

Enrollment of Muslim students is growing at Catholic colleges in U.S.: Washington Post

Catholic Universities who have traveled with us to the region, including DePaul University, Loyola Marymount University, Ohio Wesleyan University, have always seen a great deal of success in recruiting students from the area. The students are attracted to the universities for their education, campus life, diversity, and majors – just like at any other school.  A few times I have been asked whether they will be required to pray at Church, which of course is not the case at these universities. This is a simple misconception that a few of the students may have, but the overwhelming number do not connect the university with religion.

I do still discourage universities with a more overt religious mission from recruiting in the area, having required Chapel or Bible study classes will not be encouraging to potential students in the region and I would doubt the universities would see a good return on their travel budget.

Now I have to go dig up that old photo of the Jesuit priest (Father) from Massachusetts playing baseball at Baghdad College in the late 1950′s to share with you all. Its why my dad still cheers for the Boston Red Sox, to the chagrin of my Cardinals loving husband!

The PR office at NYU Abu Dhabi must have been working overtime this weekend, articles in both the New York Times & Inside Higher Ed this morning talk about the mix of students making up the inaugural class. US Educational Group is proud to have been part of the recruitment effort!

N.Y.U. Abu Dhabi Scours Globe for Top Students

The Worlds Honor College?

NYU Abu Dhabi recruiting with US Educational Group

NYU Abu Dhabi - working on those High School students!

A proper post on QR codes and their use will make its way onto our blog soon, but for now, I just want to give you my contact info

Click on this link to print it